When University of Central Florida fraternity and sorority members return next week from spring break, their chapters will have a plan to follow to begin the process that could lead to resuming social, new member and initiation activities.
Chapters will begin presenting plans in two weeks. Chapters that have not been found in violation of any university policies during the past three years and have exceeded standards for the 2012 Standards of Excellence will have the first opportunities to present their plans.
The plans will explain how students and organizations will live up to the values outlined in the UCF Creed. For integrity, plans must demonstrate how members will be held accountable within their organizations and to the Greek community, and also how chapters will be held accountable within the Greek community. For excellence, plans must focus on the quality of new member programs and how they prepare future leaders to ensure stability and success.
“Many of our Greek organizations are model chapters, and I expect they will develop strong plans that will guide their future as leaders in our campus community,” said Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services.
Ehasz said she hopes many of UCF’s chapters will be granted permission to resume social, new member and initiation activities in April.
“We are prepared to work closely with other chapters that may need more assistance establishing the structures and cultures they need to thrive on our campus,” she added.
Chapters will find out their status during the first week in April. During the second week in April, they will be required to submit plans demonstrating how they will work on the areas of improvement identified in the review process.
UCF halted social, new member and initiation activities Feb. 21 in response to concerns that the university’s Greek community needed a culture change when it comes to the use and abuse of alcohol as well as hazing. Fraternities and sororities continue to hold alcohol-free philanthropic events, which are being approved on a case-by-case basis, as well as business meetings and some special events, such as mother-daughter weekends.
“Since the halt was announced, we have engaged in excellent conversations with our students, advisers, national organizations and other partners about the future of Greek Life at UCF,” Ehasz said.
Those conversations include three webinars that UCF is hosting this week and next week. During the webinars, staff members can answer questions about the halting of activities, the organization’s paths to resuming those activities and the future of Greek Life at UCF.
The first webinar was held Monday, March 4. Additional webinars will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, March 11. To sign up, go to www.fsl.sdes.ucf.edu and then click on Webinar Information.
UCF also is in the process of creating a Greek Advisory Council to help strengthen Greek Life on campus. The council will include students, advisors, national organization representatives and others.